Even then Neewa did not respond, except to draw a deeper breath, and change his position a little.
That afternoon, for the first time in many hours, Neewa rose to his feet, stretched himself, and sniffed of the dead rabbit.

But he did not eat.

To Miki's consternation he rolled himself round and round in his nest of sand and went to sleep again.
The next day, at about the same time, Neewa roused himself once more.
This time he went as far as the mouth of the den, and lapped up a few mouthfuls of snow.

But he still refused to eat the rabbit.

Again it was Nature telling him that he must not disturb the pine needles and dry bark with which he had padded his stomach and intestines.